19, transgender and want a biological child

I'm a 19 year-old transgender male. I haven't received any hormones or surgery yet, meaning my body is the same as the body of a non-trans woman... except I'm a guy! I'm currently set to go on testosterone next year. This will masculine my body and make me a lot more comfortable in my own skin, but the effects on my fertility can't be predicted. The problem with this is that I want to have a biological child during my life, and I feel like it will bother me for my whole life if I couldn't do that because I chose hormones before pregnancy.

I understand that 19 is not the ideal age for most people to have a child and, ideally, I would wait a few years before doing it myself - but I can't face the thought of avoiding hormones for an unknown time until I'm older and "ready". I need to be moving forward in some way, whether that's having a child before I go on hormones or planning to have a child later and taking the risk that going on hormones could make me infertile. Of course, taking testosterone could have no effect on my fertility, or I could regain fertility if I stopped taking it again. The latter is still the choice I feel the most uneasy about.

I looked into storing my eggs, but the success rate isn't high enough for me to feel comfortable taking that chance. I'd consider adoption later in life, but I want at least one child that's biologically mine.

So, some details. I live with my parents and two brothers, and have been in a relationship for almost a year with my 21 year-old boyfriend. Both my family and boyfriend are understanding of my situation, and have promised to support me whatever choice I end up making.

Currently I don't have a stable job, but I do have a decent amount of money saved. I'm home educated, and will be completing my final courses next year. I've always been good with and enjoyed the company of babies and children, and have known I want children of my own from a young age. I've never been the kind of person who enjoyed going out and partying.

I understand that having a baby is a long-term commitment and a big decision, especially at the age I am, which is why I'm seeking opinions, advice, stories from people in situations similar to my own... anything except criticism of me being a trans man who wants to carry a baby. Thank you!

You need a stable job and a stable home, and ideally relationship, first. It sounds like you're wanting a child to give you stability, but it should be the other way round - you give the child stability.

Work on getting your qualifications, a job and supporting yourself first. Then you'll have something to offer a child, and you'll know yourself what you need to do.

Regardless of sex/gender, you have been with your partner for a very short time, you have no job and you live with your parents. You would be incredibly selfish to bring a child into this world on a whim.

You are 19, have no job, (currently) no qualifications and live with your parents. You are in no position to have a baby.

Also, I don't understand how you reconcile the desire to be seen as a man, but also to be pregnant and have your own biological child? Honestly, I think you need a lot more therapy before you start on treatments which may leave you sterile.

I think you need to seek.some form of medical help/counselling about this. If you are dysphoric to the extent you need to change your body, I would worry about the impact your changing pregnant body would have on your mental health.

Agree with other posters. Unfortunately, you can't have it all, the T to change you ur body/voice etc... and some functioning ovaries/uterus to get pregnant.Also being pregnant is something that is very 'womanly' and I do wonder how your u would cope with having an as manly as possible body, living like a man etc... but going through the pg itself. It seems to be quite opposite to each other and I would really advise yOu to get some counselling about that first. It's NOT a criticism btw. Just worried about how you would cope emotionally with it, knowing that hormones will make it harder for you emotionally anyway?

As for being pregnant now... yes it is possible to get pg at 19yo. And yes it is hard work and yes it is probably not the best time, esp if you don't do it because you really want a baby now but because in some ways it's in the way of you doing the transition from F to M.

I have a female to male trans friend called N. N wanted a child and so became pregnant in his late teens, before starting hormone therapy. He was so traumatised about being pregnant, which was so "female", he ended up having an abortion. This situation is nowhere as easy as you think, it seems you haven't considered all of the possibilities and your social circumstances mean this is not the right time to have a child.

Your sensible options are:-Socially transition, but delay hormone treatment so you have time to decide if you can manage the female aspects of being pregnant and giving birth-medically transition and risk your fertility further down the line.

Hmm, having a baby is not ' a long term commitment' having a pet is a long term commitment. having a baby is forever.

I think you are in a not very stable place at the moment and need to make some decisions and find solutions about your home circumstances, your career and future economic stability first.

You are likely to meet huge problems along the way in the future. For your child's sake you need to have as many areas of your life as secure and sorted out as you can before you consider expecting a child to deal with your life choices as well.

What does your councillor or advisor suggest...as they have probably come across thus situation before.Do you trust them you are deciding between 2 big things. Your bf what do they want is the relationship homosexual or heterosexual in your eyes...who do you plan to have relationships with in future as that could affect plans so if you are a man you may end up with a girlfriend wife who wants a child she gives birth to...

I'd be very worried about the effect of a pregnancy body on your mental health. I'd definitely suggest some real professional help in working through these issues. I must warn you that sometimes mumsnet can be very anti-trans. I've been quite shocked by some of the comments I've read here on this topic in the past and I'm concerned that this isn't the right place for such an important conversation for you. Wishing you the very best of luck.

My body (presumably) has the potential to do an amazing thing that most men's bodies can't, and I don't see why it shouldn't! If I did choose pregnancy now, I wouldn't go on hormones until after I had had the child - they wouldn't affect its development at all.

I do plan to raise this issue in my next appointment at the gender identity clinic I go to, but feel it would help me to be more certain first.

Have a female to male trans friend .... He did the marriage and 2 kids thing as a test .... He still was in the wrong body.. Mummy is now Daddy, the kids are coping and my buddy is very happy and in a LTR with another trans female to male! Brilliant outcome! Life is too complicated and short to wait around.... You are in a relationship ... Use the body you were given to have your child and then get on the T .... Luckily you have these options !!! Love and the very best wishes !